Tips for When You Hit The Career Fair

Most career fairs—Tech’s included—publish a list of companies attending the fair well in advance. Take a chance to look over this list and do some background research into the com­panies you’re interested in. Pay particular attention to what job opportunities with their company interest you, but build up a good base of knowledge about the company in general as well. Asking representatives specific questions focused on their company and the position you’re consid­ering shows a genuine interest in the company.

 

The old adage that the first impres­sion is the best impression still holds true. Though only business casual dress is required at most career fairs, business professional has more often than not become the norm. Also, watch out for dirty shoes, undone buttons, and stains. For guys, shaving is advised but well-kept facial hair is acceptable as well.

 

Bring enough resumes to last through two career fairs and then some. Nothing is more disappointing than not being able to give a potential employer your resume because you are saving your last one for the company you really want a job with. Another good idea is to print your resume on resume paper—higher quality paper normally of cotton and available at most office supply stores (Tech’s bookstores included). Remember that the goal here is to stand out from the crowd, and every little bit helps.

 

Arrive early! Career fairs are usually least crowded at the beginning of the day, and, aside from avoiding the crowds, the longer you are there, the more time you have to talk to people. Also, keep in mind that you don’t waste time waiting in a line if you are the first person in it. Also, note that the most crowded times are those when everyone has a break. If possible, try to avoid lunch hours, closing time, and the free hour from 11 am to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Smaller crowds means less time waiting to talk to recruiters and more time actually getting to know them (not to mention less time sweating in a suit or balancing on heels!).

 

Once you arrive at the fair, take some time to familiarize yourself with the place. Take a look at the map and walk around the room a few times. This will allow you to double-check representatives’ locations as well as give you a heads-up as to where the lines and crowds are.

 

Make a list of companies you want to talk to and prioritize them. Try to start with someone low on your list (or even one not on it); the practice will get you warmed up and help you relax when you reach the companies you’re more interested in, not to mention potentially opening up another employment option. Be sure to balance this with the fact that there will be a lot of wait time, and that you will most probably not have enough time to talk to everyone on your list (especially if you plan on speaking with several companies).

 

Nothing beats a firm handshake, a smile, and a quick, “Hello”. Handing the repre­sentative your resume after this is ideal.

 

You never know what can happen. The specific job you were gunning for might have already been filled, or, on the other hand, new positions might have opened up. Be flexible and hope for the best. An­other time where flexibility is key is when you have to make the choice between wait­ing in a long line for that one golden job or us­ing that time to talk to five other potential employers for silver jobs. Note that wait times for most big names can be anywhere from half an hour to an hour long.

 

With the number of companies you will be talking to, there is no way you are going to remember all the information that will be coming your way. In par­ticular, write down dates and time for application deadlines and information sessions, as these tidbits of knowledge have a habit of dissolving quickly. Sometimes, the representative you speak with might not have the answer to one of your questions, and in such a case, request and note down the name and contact information of someone who might.

 

If you have business cards, offer one to the representative. This is an indirect way of asking for theirs. If you don’t have business cards, then simply asking the representative for theirs is perfectly acceptable, too. There are many advantages to having a potential employer’s business card. It gets you a direct con­tact with the company (with the proper spelling of their name, direct phone number, etc.) and gives you the chance to send the representative a brief thank-you note for their help (once again, making you stand out just a bit more from the crowd).

 

Yes, career fair freebies are awesome, but try to maintain a bit of professionalism when you see them. Good practice is to not take anything until the employer of­fers it to you. If they don’t, then try to resist the urge, but at least make sure you ask before you snatch something from their table. Never grab an obscene quantity of free stuff and never pick anything out of boxes. Remember, you came here for a job, not to go trick-or-treating.

 

Smile. Also be polite and courteous to everyone present. You are not just representing yourself but Tech as well. Everyone present has an interest in the Institute, and many recruiters are probably alumni.